Q: I live in a well-kept neighborhood with many longtime family residences. About five years ago, a younger couple divorced and the man kept the house. He has since rented the home about once a year to different families, all of whom have never quite fit the "respectable" type.

People come and go until 6 a.m. all through the week. Recently the home was rented to the worst family yet. They are loud. They have been caught stealing from other neighbors and they sell drugs from their home. I know they sell drugs because unfortunately my daughter has gotten her drugs from these people on occasion.

They also have garbage gathering in the yard and the yard is never taken care of. It looks horrible. Can the neighbors and I do anything to force the landlord into keeping his tenants under control?

A: Landlords' attorney Smith: It seems your divorcee landlord is failing to properly screen his tenants. I will defend him, though, to the extent that he is not automatically responsible for the acts of his wayward tenants.

If there was nothing in the rental history to put the landlord on notice of a potential problem, and there is no violation of the rental agreement, no lawsuit exists against the landlord.

You may want to put the landlord on notice of the problems you are experiencing with his tenants. If his investigation confirms your suspicions, then it's a good idea for him to rid himself of the problem tenant. But, he'll have to do so by proper eviction notice.

Tenants' attorney Kellman: The landlord is certainly not responsible for the unforeseen or unknown wrongful acts of his tenants. However, once on notice, the landlord must take appropriate action.

If the neighbors are sure that illegal activities are going on, a letter to the landlord should be written explaining the situation and asking the landlord to investigate the situation. If, in fact, the tenants are dealing drugs, the landlord may be required to begin eviction proceedings to abate what might be considered a legal nuisance or face liability for not doing so.

In your case, you seem pretty sure that drugs are involved based on the regrettable situation with your daughter. Still, caution is advised before accusations are made. If you are wrong about your accusations, and you cause innocent tenants to be evicted, you may face a claim for damages from those tenants.